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American climbers in Cuba - insurance??

Original Post
ala737 · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2010 · Points: 0

I'm headed down to Cuba in a couple weeks to climb at Vinales. I'm having a really difficult time finding travel medical insurance coverage (as required by Cuba) to cover rock-climbing there. I've tried the company recommended by AAC, I've tried my usual insurance company, and two others. I can get coverage through the Canadian travel agent that sold me the flight, but it specifically excludes climbing.

How have other American climbers dealt with this? Did you buy the coverage offered by Asistur at the airport? Did you just buy insurance that doesn't cover climbing?

Thanks for any info!

David A · · Gardnerville, NV · Joined Oct 2008 · Points: 405

I thought Cuba "outlawed" rock climbing a few years ago? I use quotes because I have a hard time believing there is any enforcement down there in that regard, and you could most likely climb unmolested, but may explain why you can't find any insurance covering climbing.

Steve Pulver · · Williston, ND · Joined Dec 2003 · Points: 460

How did you find partners? I've been trying for years to find someone that wanted to go.

Cor · · Sandbagging since 1989 · Joined Mar 2006 · Points: 1,445

How come the Global Rescue (AAC) does not work? Just curious to educate myself…

Vaughn Fetzer · · Durango, CO · Joined Apr 2011 · Points: 70

I'm not sure about insurance, but when I was there two years ago it would not have been hard to find partners, drawing both on the local climber pool as well as the visiting climbers.

If you haven't checked it out, cubaclimbing.com is an excellent resource and the guidebook mentioned there gets you exactly where you need to be.

As far as I remember I showed my insurance card at the airport in Havana and that was that, they didn't investigate further. I suspect my insurance at the time didn't cover me in Cuba, however.

Steve Pulver · · Williston, ND · Joined Dec 2003 · Points: 460

Cool. That's good to hear, I've got tentative plans to go in March with a non-climber. (He's Cuban)

ala737 · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2010 · Points: 0

Cor - I called Global Rescue. The coverage offered via AAC is not available in Cuba. Even if it was, it only covers evacuation from backcountry to trailhead, not any local medical care and not evacuation back to the US.

Steve - I'm going with a Canadian friend. None of my regular US partners want to deal with the travel and banking hassles of going to Cuba. But I'm told that it's easy enough to find partners once there.

Vaughn - Thanks for the info. I'm all over that site and I'm awaiting the guidebook in the mail now. Where did you stay there? Any casas particulares to recommend?

Vaughn Fetzer · · Durango, CO · Joined Apr 2011 · Points: 70

It's definitely worth staying with Esther Cardoso in Havana (e-mail address is in the guidebook and on the website). She's the mother of the guidebook author, and also is an artist, an intellectual, and all-around great person. Her home is beautiful, quiet, and conveniently located. She can has lots of contacts and could probably help put you in touch with people in Vinales, and she certainly will make your time in Havana more pleasant.

I can't remember which casa particular we used in Vinales, there are a number of nice ones. What I do remember is that the main road leading to/from town has a lot of truck and farm equipment traffic very early in the morning. You might want to find a place off of the main road, or if you do stay on the main road (we did) make sure to ask for a bedroom on the side of the house facing away from the street.

Consider gathering some gently-used equipment before you go there so that you can donate it to the local climbing community - ropes, shoes, draws, maybe corrosion-resistant hangers, etc. Not only is it the right thing to do (the folks developing/bolting the routes there aren't exactly swimming in money), but it will likely open a lot of doors for you as well.

As far as travel hassles, we didn't really encounter any. We flew to Mexico City, arrived in late afternoon, and stayed at the airport (there's at least one hotel in the airport itself, so it's convenient). We scored tickets to Havana within an hour or two of our arrival just by walking to ticket counters in the airport, and there were multiple flights to choose from with at least two airlines. No hassles at all.

Have fun you guys, Cuba has a lot of super nice people to meet, Vinales is great, and you won't regret making the effort to get there.

ala737 · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2010 · Points: 0

Vaughn - Awesome info, thank you for sharing!

For anyone curious about the insurance question that started this whole thread,
I went with a policy called Diplomat International that covers Cuba and offers a Hazardous Sports Rider without being grossly expensive. There are several others offered via Squaremouth.com. (I'm not an insurance broker or lawyer, so insert the usual disclaimer here - do your own research, this is not an endorsement, etc etc)

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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